The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Liu Jingyu's words shattered Ma's last remaining illusion.

This also caused Huang, who had been lying on the ground without making a sound, to break down.

As if suddenly awakened, Huang got up from the ground and rushed over to hug Liu Jingyu's leg.

She wailed, "No, no, you can't do this! I am your wife, and Zhenzhen and Tong'er are your own flesh and blood. You can't abandon us three!"

After Liu Pengfei said those words, Huang knew in her heart that she was doomed to die this time.

Because if she, the mastermind behind it all, doesn't die, neither the Liu family nor the Huang family will be able to explain themselves to the Empress in the palace.

She's just been spoiled, but she's not a brainless idiot.

In the years since she married into the Liu family, she has not been the eldest daughter-in-law of the first wife, but she has been able to take over the management of the household affairs in place of her mother-in-law, becoming the de facto head of the household in the eyes of others.

Besides having her family's support as a backer, it was mostly her methods and strategies that mattered.

Originally, Huang had already accepted in her heart that she had to die this time in order to completely resolve this matter, protect the Liu family, and also protect the Huang family.

However, she overestimated her mental resilience and her spirit of sacrifice.

When she heard what Liu Jingyu said, her psychological defenses were instantly shattered.

She knew that everything she had done over the years had been a test of Liu Jingyu's bottom line.

If there is anyone in this world who hates her the most and wishes she were dead, that person must be Liu Jingyu.

If someone else had killed her, there might have been room for maneuver. Even if she died, her two children might have been spared and given a glimmer of hope.

However, if Liu Jingyu were to take action himself, she and her two children would not survive.

"Liu Jingyu, you are at least a person who has read the classics and sages, and you pride yourself on being a scholar who knows everything about the world and is polite and respectful in all things."

"Has your conscience been eaten by dogs? How could you do something like killing your wife and children?"

"If this gets out, how will you, Liu Jingyu, have the face to live in this world?"

Faced with Huang's remarks, everyone in the room began to whisper among themselves.

After Liu Jingyu laughed loudly, he turned around and kicked away Huang, who was clinging to his leg.

"Ha, face, reputation, humph! These things were long ago ruined by you after I married you."

"The worst and most regrettable thing I, Liu Jingyu, have ever done in my life is that I agreed to marry you, you poisonous woman."

"Your death today is no one's fault but your own; you brought this upon yourself."

Liu Jingyu felt absolutely no pity for the woman in front of him who had ruined his life.

Back then, Madam Ma wanted to find someone who could support her son and help him ascend to the position of head of the family in the future.

He then personally arranged the marriage between Liu Jingyu and the Huang family.

But who could have imagined that the woman he married would be a ruthless shrew?

Instead of becoming Liu Jingyu's capable wife, she became a nightmare he couldn't escape.

Madam Ma, who had originally wanted to persuade Liu Jingyu further, lowered her head guiltily after hearing her son's words.

The person who caused this outcome is herself.

If she hadn't forced her son, Liu Jingyu, to abandon his childhood sweetheart and marry Huang, this tragedy wouldn't have happened.

"Brother, leave what you've prepared here, and then get out of here. I can handle things here on my own."

Liu Jingyu was certainly not naive enough to think that if he didn't do it, Liu Pengfei would give up and let him get away unscathed.

He knew perfectly well that this was a scheme set up by Liu Pengfei to ruin his reputation, to make him carry the guilt of poisoning his own child for the rest of his life, and to make him unable to hold his head high again.

All of this stemmed from the evil deeds committed by his mother, which sowed the seeds of evil and yielded bitter fruit.

This is retribution for him, and also for his mother.

The sins that this mother and son must repay cannot be escaped.

Liu Pengfei looked up at Liu Jingyu. He had endured for decades, and today he could finally avenge his mother and seek justice for the humiliation and torment he and his sister had suffered over the years.

Rather than letting Ma and Liu Jingyu die, it's better to let them live and watch helplessly as their years of hard work are destroyed.

Watching myself lead my family, I see how we've made our lives so prosperous.

This left the mother and son living in regret and self-blame day and night.

Such torment is a hundred times better and more satisfying than letting them die.

“Listen up, all of you. Today’s matter concerns the life and death of our entire Liu family.”

"Forget everything you hear and see here today as soon as you leave this door."

"You must not mention this to anyone again. If any rumors spread outside and people start talking about it..."

"Then don't blame me for being ruthless and sending your whole family to their deaths."

"This is a secret that none of us in the Liu family can reveal. If you want to live, remember what I'm saying."

Liu Pengfei's words were not only a warning to the Liu family, but also a final vestige of dignity left for his half-brother Liu Jingyu.

This is the only thing he, as the older brother, can do for his younger brother Liu Jingyu in his entire life.

"Yes, we've all taken note."

When Liu Pengfei instructed the Liu family to come today, he only requested that the men in charge of each household come, and did not allow the women in his family to come and join in the fun.

A man's words are more reliable than a woman's.

Liu Pengfei was the first to stand up. When he walked to Liu Jingyu's side, he said in a low voice, "The things you need are on the table."

As he passed by Madam Ma, he gave her a meaningful look and said, "Please take good care of yourself, Mother, and accept my condolences."

This seemingly ordinary sentence, however, sounded like a raging storm to Madam Ma, sending chills down her spine.

She knew that her retribution had finally come, and not only her, but also her beloved son, would not have an easy time from now on.

But what can be done? It's all her own doing; it's the mess she made herself.

Liu Pengfei walked to the door, opened the ancestral hall door, and went outside to instruct, "Steward, bring the old lady's maids here and have them serve her as she returns."

"Yes, sir."

The butler, having received the order, trotted out to call for help.

After Liu Pengfei left, all the members of the Liu family in the ancestral hall bowed their heads and left.

In an instant, only Liu Jingyu and his family of four remained in the huge ancestral hall.

After Liu Jingyu kicked Huang away, she kept staring at him, her gaze never leaving him.

Everyone in the ancestral hall had left by now, leaving only the four members of their family. Huang sat up straight and looked at Liu Jingyu, asking, "Are you really going to kill me and the children?"

"What do you say?"

Liu Jingyu turned around, staring at Huang Shi with eyes that seemed to pierce through her, and walked step by step to her. Then he squatted down and grabbed her neck.

"You really deserve to die. Not only did you ruin yourself, but you also killed two children, and in the end, you even dragged me down with you."

"Even if you were torn to pieces and your flesh fed to the dogs, you wouldn't deserve any pity."

The hatred that had been weighing on Liu Jingyu's heart for so many years finally erupted at this moment.

He looked at Huang Shi in front of him as if he were seeing his enemy.

At this moment, he had nothing left in his heart, no affection for his wife. All he could think about were the humiliations and oppression Huang had inflicted on him over the years.

There are also the cruel things that Madam Huang did to her concubines and their children.

The more Liu Jingyu thought about it, the angrier he became, and the stronger he became, the more force he used, almost strangling Huang to death.

Huang knew that Liu Jingyu hated her, but she never expected that Liu Jingyu would hate her so much.

He had reached the point where he couldn't let go of his resentment until she died.

Seeing Huang Shi's eyes rolling back and her life hanging by a thread, Liu Jingyu's last shred of reason made him stop.

Huang huddled to one side, breathing heavily. She hadn't been particularly afraid when she knew she was going to die, but now, facing Liu Jingyu like this, she was truly terrified.

After all, she knew better than anyone how she had treated Liu Jingyu in the past.

Half of the things she did stemmed from her spoiled nature, and the other half from her knowledge that her husband, Liu Jingyu, did not love her.

From the time they got married until now, Liu Jingyu has never had a place for her in his heart.

This was an extreme humiliation for Huang, something she could never accept, no matter what.

What woman in the world doesn't hope to marry a good husband who cares about her and loves her?

Although Huang was arrogant and domineering in the Liu family, getting whatever she wanted, Liu Jingyu always listened to her.

But only Huang knew the deep-seated contempt and disgust Liu Jingyu felt for her.

That contempt and disgust has lingered since our wedding night and has never disappeared.

The husband who was so respectful to her in the eyes of others—only she knew the extent of the hurt he caused her behind that facade.

Knowing that she could not escape death today, Huang looked back at her children who were crying so hard they were about to faint.

He turned to Liu Jingyu and said, "If you hate me, I can die."

"But Zhenzhen and Tong'er are your own flesh and blood. They have never enjoyed your love and care as their father since they were little."

"Even if it's just to make up for the fatherly love they never received, please save them."

"I'll die, but please let them live."

Huang knew that everyone else could survive today, but she, the instigator, had to die.

"Hmph! Of course you're going to die, you have to die. If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened today."

Liu Jingyu looked back at the two children who were tied up and crying so hard they were almost out of breath.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Tong'er can live, but Zhenzhen must die with you."

"Liu Jingyu, are you even human?"

Huang was enraged by Liu Jingyu's words; what she wanted was for both children to survive.

But then Liu Jingyu said that only one of the two children could live, how could she possibly accept that?

She was the one who harmed her own daughter. If she hadn't been blinded by anger and hatred, she wouldn't have thought of sending Liu Zhenzhen to the palace for help.

How could she not know about Empress Dowager Liu's fall from power?

But she always thought that the Emperor had only imprisoned Empress Dowager Liu in Kangning Palace as a warning to Empress Dowager Liu and the Liu family, so that they would restrain their behavior.

After all, so much time has passed since Empress Dowager Liu and the Liu family got into trouble, and the Emperor has not imposed any other punishment on Empress Dowager Liu except to have her reflect on her mistakes in Kangning Palace.

Therefore, she assumed that the matter was over. After all, Empress Dowager Liu was the emperor's adoptive mother, and in order to save face for the royal family, the emperor would not hold it against Empress Dowager Liu anymore.

That's how everything was arranged, so that Liu Zhenzhen could go to the palace to ask for help.

But who knew that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire? Not only did he fail to meet Empress Dowager Liu and resolve the problem, he was also caught red-handed and forced into a dead end.

She truly regrets her actions.

But it's too late to say anything now. The only thing she can do is save the lives of these two children and ensure they can live a good life.

Now that she heard Liu Jingyu say that only one of the two children could live, how could Huang not be angry?

"I'm not human, are you?"

"Wasn't it you, her own mother, who killed her?"

"You made a mistake, you killed her with your own hands, who can you blame?"

"The fact that the Empress did not order them to be strangled on the spot today is already a great favor to the Liu and Huang families."

"You should stop being greedy, otherwise you won't be able to save either of them."

Although Liu Jingyu was also reluctant to let Liu Zhenzhen die, the current situation would not give him any choice.

The person who stormed the palace was Liu Zhenzhen; she was the ringleader, so she had to die.

As the mastermind behind it all, Huang must also die.

Only if both mother and daughter die can Liu Pengfei report back to the Empress and protect the Liu and Huang families from being implicated.

As for Liu Yitong, he was originally a not very smart child, and somewhat mentally challenged.

Liu Jingyu felt guilty towards the child, after all, Liu Yitong's current state was entirely his doing.

He could raise the child for the rest of his life to make up for his guilt, but he couldn't offer any other guarantees.

After all, once he steps out of the ancestral hall today, his fate remains unknown.